do you use protective filters with your lens?

[jultou]

Did not vote because it depends.

On expensive glass I like to have an F pro b+W filter to protect the lens. I never use lens hood hood so I don't want to take the chance of damaging the lens.

On cheaper glass I don't use filter 'just' for protection but I do use many coloured, grad filters.

 

[Pioneer]

I do occasionally use filters, but only for a purpose. I actually find that a good lens hood and/or lens cap provides more protection and doesn't introduce two more glass surfaces into the light path that have no optical purpose. But, everyone has there own way of doing things and it really is a small thing.

I do put them on the lenses on my grandkids cameras to protect them from over zealous cleaning. 🙂 But I also teach them to keep the hood on or use a lens cap when done taking pictures.

 

[GaryLH]

Always have uv filter and lens hood on all my lens. I have seen toooo many used lenses where the original owner was not a believer of filter.

I have been in unexpected sand storms in various places around the world.

Cheap uv filters maybe an issue when it comes to certain types of issues, but I have not had any problems w/ the filters I have used.

Gary

 

[flyalf]

As I started doing more street and people photos in urban environment I have added UV to M lens because of more need for cleaning.

I know for sure that this degrades IQ with lower contrast and added flare, in particular for low light / night photos, but this is the price I pay for added protection. Im not saying this is true for all sensor/lens/filter combinations, but for my lenses this seems to so.

So for night photography I usually removes filters.

As to measuring filer IQ there was a small "test" published in a Norwegian site some time ago. The testers used several filters on top of each other, and it was a quite remarkable degradation as the filters were added. Please dont take my word, try it for yourself.

 

[Bill Clark]

I use a filter, usually a skylight. Sometimes I don't need a filter, especially when I leave the lens cap on when making photos!

 

[hepcat]

Well, with my M8... I'm forced to use filters. 🙁 ....

I've always used UV or Sky 1A filters because I tend to shoot in some pretty awful places sometimes, but when I bought my M8 I was forced to use UV/IR cut filters. When I bought the M9P I didn't bother to remove them, and I have to say that I think the depth of color I'm getting out of the M9 with them is pretty remarkable. I just use them all of the time. In any event, it's easier to take a filter off when you don't need it than it is to put one on before you do.

 

[Addy101]

In any event, it's easier to take a filter off when you don't need it than it is to put one on before you do.

😕
Depends how often you're in a situation were you need one. In my case, it is much, much easier to put one on when I need one, as that is not that often.

Also, you don't take them off, you didn't even bother to take them off when you got your M9.....

 

[hepcat]

😕
Depends how often you're in a situation were you need one. In my case, it is much, much easier to put one on when I need one, as that is not that often.

Obviously, it depends on what filter you're using, but I was suggesting that with just a UV or Sky 1A, that leaving it on to protect the coating doesn't prevent you from taking a reasonably quick shot if you're in a situation where you think it would degrade an image... but you seldom have enough time to install one when a situation develops that is detrimental to the coating, front element, or filter threads. I wasn't addressing color correction or contrast-enhancing filters.

Also, you don't take them off, you didn't even bother to take them off when you got your M9.....

I seldom remove them... but there are times, high contrast with pin-point light sources for example, when it is prudent to remove them. I just don't shoot under those circumstances often. And I've left them on with the M9 for good reason. I find the color reproduction with them on the M9 is improved.

 

[Rodchenko]

I know I'm clumsy, so I do use filters. I used to keep an orange filter on my B/W machine, and now I use UV on everything. For the 'better' cameras, it will be Hoya, but others get whatever's available.

 

[colyn]

I only use a filter when the need comes up such as contrast enhancement in black & white shooting.

 

[Chris101]

I voted yes, but ...

I often use a clear or colored filter on the 35mm Ultron on my Leica because I do not have a lens cap, and this keeps stuff from getting on the lens when it is not in use. But I also take the filter off if I want to minimize flair, or if I have a colored filter on and it is not called for.

On other cameras/lenses where I do have lens caps, I rarely use clear filters. But I do often use colored filters to enhance contrast, or achieve other effects.

Three years ago, I voted "yes, I use clear filters". Since that time, I no longer use the Voigtlander lens for which I needed the filter. All of my current lenses have either a lens cap, or the camera has a case so I do not need clear filters for general usage.

I STILL have clear filters for most of my lenses, which I use when they are called for - dusty, foggy, chemical vapor, or (the worst of all) sea spray conditions. But their use is now a minority option. I put them on when needed, rather than take them off when not needed. Clear filters spend most of their time in their cases inside of my camera bag - along with all my colored or other effect filters, not screwed onto my lenses.

I use filters when they are called for only (which, in my case is often, but they are rarely clear!)

 

[Range-rover]

All the time, when I shoot school pictures it helps against those little finger.

Range

 

[Sid836]

I use the filters that cames on several lenses I have bought as caps to those that are missing one. I take them of when shooting.

 

[dct]

When in use, I screw filter and hood on my lenses to have some protection without a cap. Fiddling around with caps of two different cameras on the road distracts me too much during a photographic journey.

For longer lens storage I put the caps back on.

 

[Cyriljay]

Well, with my M8... I'm forced to use filters.

Agree with out filters I go nowhere with my M8 .

Otherwise no filters on my M6 and Hasselblad or any other Negative cameras . All i do is be careful about dust and and the messy elements around when using my cameras.

I have a very nice cleaning gear set and brushes for defending the dirts and dust ,,so no worries.😎

 

[Brian Atherton]

Always either UV or yellow.

 

[Contarama]

Currently my new mode of operation is doing away with lens caps (except for the rear cap) because they are a pain in the arse and I have heard they promote fungus and I have seen the dust and debris they can attract especially when you like to put them in your pocket like me. I use UV filters (I am a color guy) for protection of my old and getting rarer by the day lenses. And since I use digital equipment now I use Lally caps to cover the lenses with filter attached. They probably promote fungus even more than lens caps but whatever I like the Lally caps damnit. 🙂

I don't like taking the UV filters off of my lenses period. Kind of weird when it is the back element that is really more critical to protect (which is why I use the rear caps if my lenses are off camera).

I have a handful of Nikkor primes and each has their own Nikon neverready hard lenscase. Those go into my bag and the camera hangs around my neck or can also go into the bag if I am not in photographer mode.

Now if I could just make some better snaps I'd be completely happy...

 

[68degrees]

I am wondering if Kodachrome Haze is the same as just a UV filter. I would like to use it as a protective filter for the lens. I also have a skylight filter which seems like the same thing but Im not sure.

 

[Mark C]

I don't usually, unless there is a particular reason. That is assuming a good hood (like Nikon screw on, or Leica).

But I'm sure glad other people do. I have accumulated, or thrown away, quite a number of scratched UV and skylight filters that came on lenses I bought. The last batch was on a set of Zeiss C/Y lenses. I can't imagine what my friend was doing to cause that, but I am especially glad now that I sold him the filters when I sold him the lenses (new-that was a while ago).

 

[dtcls100]

I always use good quality filters. While all filters degrade image quality of a lens, it is important to stress that the amount of degradation is more theoretical than real, as this degradation is unnoticeable if one uses a clean and good quality filter.

Also, those who don't use filters because of this "degradation" issue overlook the fact that the inevitable accumulation of dust, rain spots, salt spray, sand, airborne grit, greasy haze, pollution, pollen, etc. on an exposed front element and the resulting scratches and necessity of repeatedly cleaning the front element will surely degrade the imaging quality of a lens (and its sale value) FAR MORE than any good quality filter.

I can see the gradual damage that the elements and repeated cleaning inflict on filters and their coatings, even though I always use lens shades and put on lens caps when not using a lens. It is nice to know that I can always replace a damaged filter cheaply, as opposed to having a damaged lens.

Thus basic logic and commonsense favor using a filter.